May Poker Winnings

As per the updated resolution that I made in January, I have withdrawn $200 from my poker bankroll this month. YTD=+1,200. '06-YTD=+$3,100. '05-YTD=+$1,100. My next withdrawal of $200 from my winnings is due by June 30, 2007. Please continue to wish me luck and keep me accountable.

Divine Redeemer Catholic School

We were all set to enroll our children into a school for the first time in their lives. We had our applications ready for Holy Trinity. Just as we were about to submit their applications we received news that after 40 years, the school would be closing due to low enrollment.

With great reservation we accepted the news and had to make another decision: public school, continue to home school, or find another Catholic school?

We had a meeting today with the principal, Jim Rigg of Divine Redeemer. We have to admit that we were even more impressed with this school than we were with our first choice. It is a little bit further away, but we have made the decision to enroll Alex and Marisa here because of the importance of a strong Catholic education to us. God works in mysterious ways.

[On a side note: the principal screened the kids to see if they would do all right at their prospective grade levels. Alex (age 8) was screened at a 12th grade reading level, YIKES!]

I Did It!

After shopping around for over 6 months, I finally bought my first flat panel television. I cannot believe that I have gone without one for so long. What a great picture! Even Lisa likes the difference (that's big news).

I bought the Philips 42" LCD HDTV. I had been looking at a Sony, but after seeing the picture and the price of the Philips, I used part of my lifetime poker winnings that I have been saving to purchase it. I probably saved $600 over the Sony and I just did not feel like the Sony was worth the extra cash.

I got it at Costco Online for around $1150, including tax, shipping, 2-year extended warranty, and Costco's liberal 90-day return policy. I just couldn't pass this one up. Hooray!

Here it is on Amazon.com (not available at Costco anymore).

Life is a Gift

There was a blind girl who hated herself just because she was blind. She hated everyone, except her loving boyfriend. He was always there for her. She said that if she could only see the world, she would marry her boyfriend.

One day, someone donated a pair of eyes to her and then she could see everything. Including her boyfriend. Her boyfriend asked her, "Now that you can see the world, will you marry me?" The girl was shocked when she saw that her boyfriend was blind, too, and refused to marry him. Her boyfriend walked away in tears and later wrote a letter to her saying, "Just take good care of my eyes, dear."

This is how the human brain changes when our status changes. Only few remember what life was before and who's always been there, even in the most painful situations.

Today, before you think of saying an unkind word, think of someone who can't speak.

Before you complain about the taste of your food, think of someone who has nothing to eat.

Before you complain about your husband or wife, think of someone who's crying out to God for a companion.

Today, before you complain about life, think of someone who went too early to heaven.

Before you complain about your children, think of someone who desires children but they're barren.

Before you argue about your dirty house because someone didn't clean or sweep, think of the people who are living in the streets.

Before whining about the distance you drive, think of someone who walks the same distance with their feet, and, when you are tired and complain about your job, think of the unemployed, the disabled and those who wished they had your job.

But, before you think of pointing the finger or condemning another, remember that not one of us is without sin, and we all answer to one Maker.

And, when depressing thoughts seem to get you down, put a smile on your face and thank God you're alive and still around.

Life is a gift. Live it, enjoy it, celebrate it, and fulfill it.

--author unknown